Carvalho described the species as Cynolebias myersi after the well known George Sprague Myers an American Ichthyologist that lived from 1905 till 1985.

In 2011 Costa transferred this species as unique typespecies in the new erected genus Xenurolebias.

In 2014 two new taxa were added to this genus namely: X. cricarensis and X. pataxo.

The type locality is found at 18 Km from Conceicao da Barra, along the road to Itaunas in the state of Esperito Santo in South- eastern Brazil; 39° 46" W; 18° 29 S.

It is however known also from several locations on the eastern Brazilian coastal planes. The habitat stretches from Victoria in Espiritu Santo towards the north up to Caravalhas in Bahia state. The species lives in temporary waterbodies that are filled by seasonal rains and flooding of nearby rivers.

This species seems not to difficult in reproduction and need only some extra attention during the first days as they need very small food as just hatched artemia or infusoria.

The way they spawn is, as most annual species do, by diving completely into the substratum. The eggs I had from Sam Safial eyed up after 3,5 months and they were remarcable dark colored, almost black. This is not very common in Simpsonichthys

This is best placed in a small jar or drinking glass at the bottom, filled with peat moss from at least the depth of the body length of the fishes.

After 5-6 weeks the fishes are capable to produce there first eggs if food was given sufficiently.

Remarks :

Following his own experience Sam Safial, Germany wrote me that some males can be very agressive and kill females or others in the group. Therefore it is wise to give them some room and places to retrieve.

Max. size 5.0 cm.
Dorsal 16.5,
Anal 22.0,
D/A 7.0,
LL scale count (average)29.5
Pre- dorsal length to % SL – 60.4 %
Depth to % SL – 31.6 %

Carvalho, A.L. de. 1971. Um novo Peixe anual do Estado do Espirito Sant (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae, Rivulinae). Revta. Brasil Biol., 31 (3): 401, figs. 1-3.

Costa W.J.E.M. & Pedro F. Amorim (2014): Dos species nuevas de Killis de la mata Atlántica del género Xenurolebias. Integrative taxonomy and conservation of seasonal killifishes, Xenurolebias (Teleostei: Rivulidae), and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Systematics and Biodiversity (2014), 1-16